DUSHTA PRATISHYAYA

DUSHTA PRATISHYAYA 

NIDANA (ETIOLOGY) OF DUSHTA PRATISHYAYA

• Repeated exposure to cold or allergens

• Incomplete treatment of acute pratishyaya

• Viruddha ahara (incompatible food)

• Kapha-pittavardhaka diet

• Excessive day sleep, night vigil

• Pollution, dust, smoke exposure

• Suppression of natural urges, especially sneezing

• Recurrent infections or low immunity

Reference:
अतीवोष्णं रुक्षं शीतं मलपित्तकफप्रदम्।
संसर्गात् प्रतिश्यायो जायते स च दूष्यते॥
– Ashtanga Hridaya Uttara Tantra

SAMPRAPTI (PATHOGENESIS) OF DUSHTA PRATISHYAYA

• Vitiated doshas accumulate in urdhvajatru pradesha (head and neck region)

• Get lodged in nasa srotas

• Obstruction of normal flow, leading to srotorodha, inflammation, and tissue degeneration

• Recurrent insult causes dushti of tissues and development of kleda, resulting in chronic infection or hypertrophy

LAKSHANAS (SYMPTOMS) OF DUSHTA PRATISHYAYA

• Chronic nasal discharge (mucoid/purulent)

• Nasal obstruction or congestion

• Foul smell (in atrophic forms)

• Headache, heaviness in head

• Post-nasal drip

• Sneezing, itching

• Reduced or loss of smell (anosmia)

• Thickened nasal mucosa

• Polyps or hypertrophy (in some cases)

Reference:
शुष्कं पूतिगन्धि स्रवमुत्क्लेशकरं बहु।
प्रत्याघातं सितं तस्य गन्धह्रासं च लक्षणम्॥
– Sushruta Samhita Uttara Tantra

CHIKITSA (TREATMENT) OF DUSHTA PRATISHYAYA

• Shodhana:

  • Vamana and nasya are the main therapies

  • Virechana if associated with pitta dushti

  • Raktamokshana in rakta dushti involvement

• Shamana:

  • Use of kaphahara, deepana, pachana drugs

  • Katu, tikta rasa predominance

  • Nasal dhoomapana, gandusha, kavala

• Nasya:

  • Anu taila, shadbindu taila, marichyadi taila

  • Pradhamana nasya (dry powder) in kaphaja cases

• Rasayana therapy:

  • Chyawanprash, Brahma Rasayana

• Surgical (if required):

  • In modern management: nasal polypectomy, turbinectomy, or FESS (Functional Endoscopic Sinus Surgery) may be advised

Modern Management:

• Long-term antibiotics (if bacterial)

• Nasal decongestants

• Intranasal steroids

• Antihistamines

• Immunotherapy (in allergic cases)

• Surgical correction for DNS, polyps, etc.

• Nasal douching with saline

PREVENTIVE MEASURES

• Avoid allergens, cold exposure

• Maintain nasal hygiene

• Regular nasya with anu taila in seasons of risk

• Avoid suppression of natural urges

• Balanced diet avoiding kapha and pitta aggravating items

CLASSICAL YOGA REFERENCE
प्रातः शीतेन तोयं तु नासिकायां प्रघर्षयेत्।
पीनसं प्रतिश्यायं च नाशयेदेष स नस्यकः॥
– Ashtanga Hridaya Uttara Tantra